Mega Cities as a trend will continue to grow through 2050, positioning New York very well for the future: High-density cities are creative, thrilling and less environmentally destructive than sprawling car-based suburbs typical of America. Cities are passports from poverty. They attract poor people, rather than creating them. They are where humans are at their most artistically and technologically creative. It is no longer possible to keep the bulk of humanity down on the farm. By 2050, three-quarters of the world’s population will be urban. That means more cities – and more megacities. These megacities are a big part of humanity’s future and the prospect should be both exhilarating and terrifying. The examples of Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai show that megacities don’t have to be monstrosities. For many of us, the megacity is our fate. The goal of humanity should be to manage that fate, not succumb to it. Solid urban planning will be essential, providing the necessary infrastructure to support this growth.
Right now we can witness the creation of an entire mini-city within Manhattan at the Hudson Yards and further south in West Chelsea where the volume of construction is pretty astounding. Wisely the City is extending the # 7 subway line to Eleventh Avenue to connect this part of the City to the center. Throw in the Hudson River Park and the Highline Park and the area is well prepared for this next spurt of growth.